• 5
• Vegetarian sophistication

We are a family of one vegan, 2 vegetarian and one who eats anything but will go veggies with family. This is our first trip to HCMC city and we have consulted Happy cow for our diet appropriate restaurant,. Bong Sung was the closest to walk to from the hotel we're staying in and aren't we lucky. This restaurant is the nicest most sophisticated vegetarian /vegan restaurant I have ever been and we have spent 2 weeks on a vegan trail in Chiang Mai before HCMC. I mean wow! finding the restaurant location was not difficult, not far from the corners of Pasteur Road. Upon getting to the location according to the map, we walked in a local eatery (just like the ones we have been to in Chiang Mai). I asked if it was Bong Sung and was given a puzzled look. Then we were directed towards a side alley towards a back door where a nondescript sign on top of a door say Bong Sung. Then a pretty host welcome and directed us up a flight of steps and open the door to what I would call a pleasant transformation. This restaurant is fine dining experience. The ambience is old French colonial with a contemporary twist. There are a few servers who speaks English quite well. The tables are set with pristine dishes and chopsticks complimented with real floral arrangements. Complimentary cold Chinese tea were served straight away and wet serviettes (thick and fluffy). Servers are happy to recommend food choices and drinks. After all the awesomeness of this place, it really boils down to what the food is like. I had a fried banana blossom with green mango salad. My verdict - excellently yummy. Mu husband had a Chinese cabbage soup which was served piping hot. Our son who is a very strict vegan ordered boiled tofu, curried vegetables soup and vietnamese baguette (banh mi). Vietnamese bread are baked without milk so it was perfect. We tried the recommended non alcoholic cocktails of Sunlight and Water. We found the Water cocktail a tad too sweet. Now, a word of caution. This is a vegetarian restaurant. They do not claim to be vegan. As a matter of fact I had to explain to our sever what vegan means. I was asked if it was for health reasons :-). I even ask if the curry sauce they use does not have shrimp paste or fish sauce (as often used in Far East). The server did say they only serve and use vegetables, but I do not think they are aware that vegans do not consume animal by-products as well. Our total bill was 465,000 VND (US$21). I would suggest guests to dress up a bit coming here.